Take Care of Your Parents

This was narrated by an IAF pilot to IIT students during a Seminar on
Human Relations:

Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT) describes how his gesture
of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden flight, brought
forth a rush of emotions and made him (Venkatesh) realize that how much
we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the
airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air
before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same.
In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on
Jet Airways. The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was
surprised to see that I had booked them by air.. The excitement was very
apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school
boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the
airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage
check-in and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the
security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I,
too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to
me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and
it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant
a great deal to him. When he said thanks, I told him there was no need
to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked
back at my life. As a child, how many dreams our parents have made come
true.

Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats,
dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they
have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices
they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say
thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we
should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation,
we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme
parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed
a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to
ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when
they were young. It is our responsibility to ensure that they experience
all those and their life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually
answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I
have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have
felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood
and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same
care needs to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for
making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he
has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best
possible attention to all their wishes.

Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up
everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have
wishes, too..

Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.